First Director of Communications Appointed

Gerry Lynch, currently working as a political, polling and media consultant in Northern Ireland, is to take up the new post of Diocesan Communications Director. With a passion for communicating the Christian Gospel both through increasingly popular online means as well as traditional means, Gerry brings a wealth of skills in all media areas, and experience of being a churchwarden.

The Director, supported by the current Communications Co-ordinator, will be responsible for shaping the overall communications of this vibrant, large and diverse diocese.  He will encourage and support parishes, schools and colleagues to ensure our communications are of the highest standard. He is due to take up this post in mid-June.
 
The Bishop of Sherborne chairs the Communications Group which led the work in rethinking diocesan communications. He said, "This development is a major step forward for us as we seek to communicate effectively and listen more carefully. Gerry is an outstanding communicator with a wide range of skills and experience. News moves very fast these days, and we intend to keep up with the pace of change."
 
The Bishop of Salisbury said, "I am delighted with Gerry Lynch's appointment and look forward to welcoming him to the Diocese. He will strengthen our internal communications and will also help us to be outward facing churches."
 
Gerry Lynch said, "The Gospel's first explosive spread was along the newly built road network of the Roman Empire that was the communications revolution of its time. The information superhighway has revolutionised today's world, and provides exciting opportunities for us to share the good news of God's love for us. I am really looking forward to working with people across the Diocese to help us communicate better with one another, and with our neighbours."
 
ENDS
 
Notes
Gerry Lynch is currently working as a political, polling and media consultant in Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on helping NGOs in the cross-community sector better understand public opinion and better influence political opinion. He was previously Chief Executive of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and prior to that had a career in Whitehall. He has been an active communicant Anglican since undergraduate days and is just about to finish his third year as churchwarden of St. George's Parish in Belfast, where he revamped the parish website and developed its presence on Facebook and Twitter. He has also spent time working as a mission volunteer with USPG in Cape Town, helping the faith sector on issues around social justice, open government and peaceful elections.

Links
Bishop of Sherborne 
Communications 

Further information
Contact Michael Ford, Communications Co-ordinator:
01722 438651, 07500 836989, michael.ford@salisbury.anglican.org